Ear protecting device



April 23, 1940. J LOVER ET AL 2,198,546

EAR PROTECTING DEVICE Filed Sept 1, 1939 Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES EAR, PROTECTING DEVICE Matthew J. Lover and James Golquitt,

Shreveport, La;

Application September 1, 1939, Serial No. 293,106

6 Claims.

This invention relates to ear protecting devices and more particularly to a device engageable about the ear for protecting the ear during the treatment of the hair.

An object of this invention is to provide a cover or protecting device which is adapted to be removable mounted on the ear so as to protect the ear against heat or the like during the permanent waving or other treatment which is being given to the hair.

A further object of this invention is to provide a protector of this kind which may be easily and quickly applied to the ear and which will be maintained on the ear by its inherent resiliency and by suction or clamping due to the resiliency of the material of which the device is formed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a protector of this kind which is so constructed that it can be readily adapted to various types of ears, the device being formed of resilient or flexible material and including a connecting strap connecting the two devices together so as to firmly hold the devices on the ear and thus protect the ear against undue heat or against chemicals which may be used in the treatment of the hair.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a protecting device of this kind which is adapted to protect the marginal portions of the ear without impairing the hearing.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be more specifically described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of this invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of an ear protecting device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention, showing the device in applied position,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view 3- of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail protecting devices.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral lil designates generally a one-piece channeled body formed throughout of suitable resilient material not readily affected by heat and which is adapted to snugly engage about the marginal edge portaken on the line side elevation of one of the tions of the ear. The body It is formed in side elevation of a configuration similar to the general configuration of an ear, that is to say substantially of longitudinally arcuate contour. The body It includes an outer end or flanged part II, 5 an inner end or flanged part M, an inner intermediate or coupling part 12 and an outer intermediate or coupling part 13. The rear side of part i l merges into the front side and extends at a forward inward inclination with respect to part 1 213. The rear side of part 13 merges into the front side of part E2. The rear side of part l2 merges into the inner marginal portion of the front and is flush with the inner edge of part I4. The parts i i, l2, l3 and hi decrease in width from 15 their upper to their lower ends. The upper ends of the said parts are substantially flush. The lower ends of said parts are substantially flush. The major portion of the length of part I3 is substantially of arcuate contour in cross section. 20 The remaining portion of the length of the part i3 is of angle-shape in cross section. The part l2 couples part M with part it. The latter couples part It with part H2. The part It in connection with a portion of the part ll provides .25 the body it with an internalgroove or channel it extending from the upper to the lower end of said body and which decreases in depth and width from its upper to its lower end. The part i2 is so disposed relative to and correlated with -13!) the parts it, ll to form body it with a clearance space for correlation with the parts I3 and Hi When body It is compressed when positioning it on the ear. The said space is in the form of an external groove or channel I3 extending from v35 the upper to the lower end of body Iii and which decreases in depth and width from its upper to its lower end. The part M- in cross section is of flared contour. The lower end of body ID is curved downwardly. The major portion of the .4 length of part ll extends inwardly with respect to the parts 52 and M. The parts ll, l2, l3 and it are continuous. The part I2 is adapted to extend in the direction of the head of the wearer. The part it is adapted to engage flat against the 45 adjacent side of the head of the wearer. As the flange U5 is resilient it is adapted to conform itself to the general configuration of the adjacent side of the head of the wearer. The innerintermediate coupling l2, as shown in Figure 2 tapers in '50 a downward direction as indicated at 15 so that the lower portion i=3 of the body it will be disposed more closely to the head of the wearer than the upper portion i l. The lobe of the ear is to have at least a portion of one side M thereof engaged in the lower portion I6 of the body It). As shown in Figure 2, the inwardly projecting flange II at the lower portion thereof projects outwardly or laterally, as at 3. The upper portion I! of the body In constitutes a substantially open hood or cover which tapers in a downward direction with the greatest covering at the upper and rear edge of the ear E.

A resilient clamping member I9 is carried by an arcuate resilient arm 20, which is formed integral with the flange I I and is adapted to project inwardly of the ear E at substantially the center thereof, the clamping member l9 being so formed that it will resiliently contact with the adjacent surface of the ear inwardly of the marginal edges of the ear as shown in Figure 1. The clamping member I 9 is normally biased inwardly so that when the device is in applied position the "clamping member l9 will resiliently engage against the surface of the ear inwardly of the marginal edge thereof.

. It will be understood that there will be two of these protectors and the two protectors may be connected together by an elastic strap or cord 2!,

which as shown in Figure 1 is connected at the opposite ends thereof to the upper portion of the flange l 4.

In the use of this device the protector has, in side elevation a configuration closely resembling the configuration of the marginal edges of the ear and has a generally C shape, as shown in Figure 4. The marginal edges of the ear are adapted to be received in the groove or channel l3 of the body Ill and the parts l2 and [3 are of such cross sectional length as to dispose the flange l4 snugly against the side of the head confronting the ear. The clamping member l9 will .engage interiorly of the ear in substantially the center thereof and the cord or elastic member 2| is adapted to engage beneath the chin or jaws of the wearer. The protector hereinbefore described is adapted to cover the marginal portions of the ear sufliciently so that the heating appliances or chemicals used in the treatment of the hair will not contact with the marginal edges of the ear. This device is adapted to be constructed out of material with, at least a degree of resiliency so .that it may readily adapt itself to the conflgura vtion of the head and ear and at the same time the device is constructed out of such material as will not be readily affected under the application of heat or chemicals used in the treatment of the hair.

Heretofore devices have been used which are applied to the ears and which completely cover the ears. These devices affect the hearing and in addition retain the heat on the interior thereof. The device hereinbefore described is of substantially skeleton construction, which will not readily retain the heat in the cavities of the ear and at the same time the protector will adequately engage about the marginal edges of the ear so that the ear will not become unduly affected by any .heat treatment or chemicals used in the treatdevice laterally with respect to the head when the device is mounted on the car.

What we claim is:

1. An ear protecting device comprising an upstanding one-piece resilient lengthwise extendable body substantially of arcuate contour longitudinally, said body including a continuous outer flange, a continuous inner flange, a continuous inner intermediate coupling part, a continuous outer intermediate coupling part merging into the other coupling part and a clamping member intermediate the ends of the forward edge of and extending forwardly from said outer flange at an inward inclination, said inner intermediate coupling part merging into the front face of and connecting the inner flange with the outer intermediate coupling part, said outer intermediate coupling part merging into the rear side of and connecting said outer flange with said inner intermediate coupling part, said outer flange extending forwardly at an inward inclination from the front side of and correlating with said outer intermediate coupling part to provide said body with an internal channel for mounting the body on the ear, and said inner intermediate coupling part being so related to said inner flange and said outer intermediate coupling part to provide said body with an external clearance.

2. An ear protecting device comprising an upstanding one-piece resilient lengthwise extendible body substantially of arcuate contour longitudinally, said body including a continuous outer flange, a continuous inner flange, a continuous inner intermediate coupling part, a continuous outer intermediate coupling part merging into the other coupling part and a clamping member intermediate the ends of the forward edge of and extending forwardly from said outer flange at an inward inclination, said inner intermediate coupling part merging into the front face of and connecting the inner flange with the outer intermediate coupling part, said outer intermediate coupling part merging into therear side of and. connecting said outer flange with said inner intermediate coupling part, said outer flange extending forwardly at an inward inclination from the front side of and correlating with said outer intermediate coupling part to provide said body with an internal channel for mounting the body on the ear, and said inner intermediate coupling part being so related to said inner flange and said outer intermediate coupling part to provide said body with an external clearance, said inner flange being of flared contour in cross section and said outer intermediate coupling part having the major portion of its length of arcuate contour in cross section and the remaining portion of its length of angle-shaped contour in cross section.

3. An ear protecting device comprising an upstanding one-piece resilient lengthwise extendible body substantially of arcuate contour longitudinally, said body including a continuous outer flange, a continuous inner flange, a continuous inner intermediate coupling part, a continuous outer intermediate coupling part merging into the other coupling part and a clamping member intermediate the ends of the forward edge of and extending forwardly from said outer flange at an inward inclination, said inner intermediate coupling part merging into the front face of and connecting the inner flange with the outer intermediate coupling part,

.on the ear, and said inner intermediate coupling part being so related to said inner flange and said outer intermediate coupling part to provide said body with an external clearance, said clamping member formed of a forward and a rear portion, said forward portion for binding against the ear, inset with respect to said rear portion and of greater width than the latter.

4. An ear protecting device comprising an upstanding one-piece resilient lengthwise extendible body substantially of arcuate contour longitudinally, said body including a continuous outer flange, a continuous inner flange, a continuous inner intermediate coupling part, a continuous outer intermediate coupling part merging into the other coupling part and a clamping member intermediate the ends of the forward edge of and extending forwardly from said outer flange at an inward inclination, said inner intermediate cou pling part merging into the front face of and connecting the inner flange with the outer intermediate coupling part, said outer intermediate coupling part merging into the rear side of and connecting said outer flange with said inner intermediate coupling part, said outer flange extending forwardly at an inward inclination from the front side of and correlating with said outer intermediate coupling part to provide said body with an internal channel for mounting the body on the ear, and said inner intermediate coupling part being so related to said inner flange and said outer intermediate coupling part to provide said body with an external clearance, the said flanges and parts decreasing in width from their upper to their lower ends.

5. An ear protecting device comprising an upstanding one-piece resilient lengthwise extendible body substantially of arcuate contour longitudinally and opening forwardly, said body having its front portion formed with an internal channel opening at the upper and lower end thereof, said channel providing for mounting said body on the ear in forwardly extending relation with respect to the head, said channel gradually decreasing in width and depth from the upper end to the lower end of said body, said body having at its rear a flange of arcuate contour lengthwise for bearing against the head, and a clamping member integral with the outer side wall of the channel, intermediate the ends of such wall, said flange extending forwardly at an inward inclination from such wall for bearing against the ear when the protector is in protecting position.

6. An ear protecting device comprising an upstanding one-piece resilient lengthwise extendible body substantially of arcuate contour longitudinally and opening forwardly, said body having its front portion formed with an inturned channel opening at the upper and lower end thereof, said channel providing for mounting said body on the ear in forwardly extending relation with respect to the head, said channel gradually decreasing in width and depth from the upper end to the lower end of said body, said body having at its rear a flange of arcuate contour lengthwise for bearing against the head, and a clamping member integral with the outer side wall of the channel, intermediate the ends of such wall, said flange extending forwardly at an inward inclination from such Wall for hearing against the ear when the protector is in protecting position, said member being of strap-like form and having its forward portion inset with respect to and of greater width than its remaining portion.

MATTHEW J. LOVER. JAMES COLQUITT. 

